Director, Global Export Controls & Technical Governance

About the Role

The Director, Global Export Controls & Technical Governance serves as the principal corporate authority over the enterprise export control framework, holding ultimate functional accountability for identifying, segmenting, and mitigating national security, dual-use technology, and geopolitical compliance risks across all business units.

This position exercises direct oversight over the centralized export control tower, establishing core compliance guardrails for dual-use technology, restricted party screening, international technical data transfers, and sanctions/embargos. Reports directly to the Executive Director, Global Trade Services and Customs Operations.

Primary Internal Clients

• Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI): Advisory support for Ride Engineering, R&D, and Creative Technology teams in Burbank/Glendale and Zurich
• Studio & Production Technology: Motion picture, theatrical production, and streaming media engineering groups
• Disney Cruise Line & Parks Logistics: Upstream compliance mapping with global supply chain management
• Corporate Legal Services: Direct alignment with the Integrity and Compliance team
• Global Footprint & Regions: Strategic cross-border oversight spanning Americas, EMEA, and APAC

What You'll Do

• Formulate and execute the long-term enterprise export controls strategy and mandatory governance standards
• Author the Trade Component of the Disney Code of Conduct, Corporate Export Policies and Procedures, and core compliance protocols
• Govern the Hub-and-Spoke Matrix Operating Model by establishing KPIs, communication cadences, and compliance metrics for decentralized Trade Champions
• Mandate, design, and oversee global systemic screening of suppliers, vendors, and customers
• Provide strategic leadership to the multi-functional export control tower (direct oversight of Senior Manager, Automation & Systems Governance and Manager, Global Export Network & Operational Compliance)
• Partner with IC@D to interpret complex export control, technology transfer, and sanctions changes
• Lead trade education initiatives across all Disney geographies
• Maintain enterprise-wide export control audit readiness and oversee internal trade self-assessment schedule
• Serve as senior functional escalation point for high-risk export control resolutions and complex technology transfer authorizations

Requirements

• 15+ years of progressive corporate experience directing export compliance frameworks, global trade compliance, international technical transfers, or corporate regulatory auditing within a large public multinational enterprise
• Leadership experience managing software lifecycles, technical professionals, and multi-layered compliance networks
• Comprehensive technical knowledge of U.S. and international export control regimes, including EAR, OFAC sanctions, and technology transfer protocols

Education

• BA/BS in International Business or Economics preferred
• Certified Export Specialist designation preferred

Pay & Benefits

$185,000–$226,000/yr (Glendale, CA). Bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided, plus full range of medical, financial, and other benefits.